With its impressive battlements, towers, and courtyards, it is a sight to behold. But don't let its grandeur fool you - there is plenty of fun to be had here, too! From the Great Hall and the Heidelberg Tun to the gardens and the castle's own zoo, there is something for everyone. Whether you come to explore the castle's history or to take part in one of the many events held here, you are sure to have a great time! And if you're feeling brave, you can even take a stroll along the castle's battlements - just don't forget to duck when the cannon goes off!

We love it ! Met my high school friends travelling around europe and this place was our meeting place. It stands majestically .The view and ruins were breathtaking . You just wanna stay up there and enjoy the view and the peacefulness of the place , fit for a queen !

You can either walk or take the Funicular up to the castle grounds. Either way the view is spectacular. The grounds are large, so make sure you give yourself enough time to explore, relax & enjoy.

Definitely the 'big ticket item' in Heidelberg, particularly when combined with the funicular ride to get up and down. A huge sprawling edifice with parts clearly from multiple eras it certainly makes a statement glowering over the old town. The Pharmacy museum and the 'big barrel' are two of the more interesting things to do inside. Do go for a stroll all the way to the point where there is a splendid view and a couple of interesting sculptures.

Really enjoyed this tour although I do agree that the tour focuses mainly on the outside of the castle. Still a nice experience with a great guide. Make sure to take the tram all the way to the top overlook. Also make sure to look at the humongous wine barrel on the way out of the tour.

You will definitely want to visit the castle if you have never been to Heidelberg before. It is quite large and has some ruins as well as renovated buildings. You can arrive here by car, bus, or the funicular, but I think the "fun"icular is the most fun way to go! You can also walk up the hill from the Altstadt, if interested. An entrance fee to the castle is required and they also offer a separate guided tour, which I highly recommend. With the tour, you are taken inside of some of the buildings (including the chapel) and are provided with a wealth of information on the castle's history. English tours are available. Once inside the castle courtyard, there is pharmacy museum, restaurants, and a huge wine barrel that you can also visit, so plan your time accordingly. Outside the castle, there is a garden and courtyard that is free. I recommend at least walking towards this area, so that you can get a good view of the fat tower that was blown up by the French in 1689 and left in ruins. It is a nice area to walk around in with a fountain towards the back and a unique modern sculpture of a horse.

We were staying in Stuttgart and visited Heidelberg on the 40 minutes non-stop ICE train. Just outside the station is a very helpful Tourist Information building where we were given a walking route map and information about buses. As we are in our 70s we didn’t want to walk unnecessarily as it was very hot. Gathered outside and leaning against the Information office, we were not expecting to see a large group of men, drinking beer and with numerous bottles arranged all around them! Not too welcoming. We followed the walking map we had been given and made our way to the famous old bridge over the River Neckar. We crossed to the other side but it was far too hot to venture up to the Philosophers Walk, which gives a lovely view across to the castle and town. We went up to the castle on the funicular railway, but had we known how long the wait in the queue would be, I think we would have walked up. The Castle is the highlight. Our return journey to Stuttgart was tiresome. Having made our way back through the old town to the station, we were on the platform when the board changed to say that the 5:33 was cancelled and there was not another until 7:13. So off we went to a cafe to wait. The train left on time for what would be the 40 minute journey. Problems on the line caused a diversion to Esslingen and we eventually arrived in Stuttgart just after 9pm. We have visited German cities a number of times independently in the past and swore by the public transport system,. Sadly we had three experiences like this and warn others to be aware when relying as tourists on trains - especially to the airport!!! However, we still prefer to visit places on our own, rather than in a group.

We visited the castle with a guide who took us up in the funicular, which was fun. The castle is essentially a collection of ruins (to varying degrees) but with some buildings saved to maintain their integrity. We focussed on the facades although we did go into the cellar area to check out some impressive wine barrels. Our guide was a font of knowledge and gave us a wonderful history of the castle and some of the impressive statues adorning one building in particular. One of the highlights of being up at castle level were the wonderful views over the Neckar River, the city, and the expensive riverside houses. Worthwhile visiting.

Fascinating castle at the centre of European history. Definitely worth paying the extra for a guided tour (English ones run four times a day starting at 11:15) - you get to explore behind closed doors and hear a lot of history. The story of how Elizabeth, the daughter of James I of England ended up here is well worth hearing.

the palace has spectacular views. if you don't take the guided tour you only get access to a couple of places. the guided tour is an hour and takes you throughout the palace and was only 6 euro each. there are more great views from the grass areas / terrace. look for the tram to the castle unless you are fit and looking for a little sweat. even at 75 degrees at 10am the steps would have made me sweat.